Extraction of lanthanides and actinides present in spent nuclear fuel and in electronic waste

A wide range of extractant and Task Specific Ionic liquids have been studied for the removal of lanthanides and actinides from high level liquid waste (e.g. PUREX and TRUEX etc.). The studies showed that extractant/TSILs can extract lanthanides and actinides simultaneously or it can specifically target the extraction of each group separately from spent nuclear fuel. Researchers noted that lanthanides have similar oxidation states, chemical and physical properties making it difficult to separate individual lanthanides from mixtures of other lanthanides. As a result, only highly efficient and selective extractants can be used for electronic waste. Because of their unique luminescent, magnetic, electrochemical and metallurgic properties, lanthanides are highly sought after materials for numerous technological applications despite their high cost, thus making their recovery from spent nuclear fuel and electronic wastes cost effective. In this review, we compile and describe the different methods for the removal of lanthanides and actinides. The literature review will help us better understand the design, application and performance of the vast group of extractants/ionic liquids already studied. Moreover, the information analyzed in this review will be applied in the synthesis and application of TSILs in further investigations. In addition, it also explained the physical properties of the ILs and its effects on the extraction efficiency of system. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.